Category Archives: DECEMBER

1948: Donna Summer is born in Boston. Her biggest-selling album is the 1979 million-selling release “Bad Girls” which tops the charts for seven weeks.

1955: Based on sales from stores, radio and jukebox plays Billboard named ‘Unchained Melody’ by Les Baxter the number 1 US song of 1955.

1961: The Beach Boys made their live debut using their new name when they appeared at Long Beach Civic Auditorium, California.

1962: During his first visit to the UK Bob Dylan played at the King And Queen pub in London.

1963: The Kinks made their live debut when they played at the Lotus House Restaurant, London. Now recognized as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era, brothers Ray Davies and Dave Davies remained members throughout the group’s 32-year run.

1966: The Monkees started a 7-week run at No.1 on the US singles charts with the Neil Diamond song ‘I’m A Believer’.

1966: Ray Charles appeared at the City Center Arena in Seattle Washington, tickets cost $4.50 on the door.

1968: Joe Cocker, Amen Corner, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Small Faces, Free and Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band all appeared at Alexandra Palace, London.

1973: Australian band AC/DC made their live debut when they appeared at Chequers Bar in Sydney.

1973: Having only recorded three tracks, Pink Floyd abandon their idea to make an album using only household objects and settle for recording Wish You Were Here instead.

1974: A document signed by all the Beatles confirms the dissolution of their partnership.

1982: Max’s Kansas City in New York City closed down. The venue had been a launching pad for such artists as The New York Dolls, Bruce Springsteen and The Velvet Underground.

1991: Pearl Jam, Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers all appeared on the same bill at the Cow Palace, San Francisco, California.

1996: Paul McCartney is awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II.

1999: The Manic Street Preachers performed to 57,000 fans at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. The Guinness Book of Records confirmed that the concert set a new record as the biggest indoor show ever staged in Europe, tickets £30.

2001: UK record chain HMV listed the best selling music products over Christmas: ‘No Angel’ by Dido was the best selling album, Kylie Minogue sold the most calendars, Kurt Cobain: ‘Heavier Than Heaven’ was the best selling book and D-12 T-Shirt was listed as the No.1 seller.

2003: They used to call him “God,” but now you can call him “Eric Clapton CBE.” The Cream guitarist and The Kinks’ Ray Davies are both made Commanders of the British Empire in the Queen’s New Year’s Honors List.

2003: The White Stripes and the Flaming Lips play a New Year’s Eve gig in Chicago. At midnight, both bands jam on the Stripes’ “We’re Going to Be Friends.”

2003: The Strokes and their crusty Southern pals Kings of Leon play a New Year’s Eve show in Las Vegas’ Cox Pavilion.

2004: Punk band The Vandals perform a New Year’s Eve show to the 3rd Brigade of the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division inside Baghdad’s Green Zone.

2004: Pete Waterman was awarded an OBE for his services to music. Once part of the Stock, Aitken & Waterman team he also booked the first ever tour for The Bay City Rollers, signed Musical Youth and Nik Kershaw during the 70’s and was promotion consultant for John Travolta.

2005: The John Lennon song Imagine was voted the nations favourite song a quarter of a century after his death.

2005: According to official figures singer-songwriter James Blunt’s ‘Back To Bedlam’ was the biggest selling UK album of 2005. The former soldier, who was virtually unknown this time last year, outsold Coldplay’s album ‘X&Y’ which finished second and Robbie Williams came in third place with ‘Intensive Care’ album.

2006: George Michael was paid a reported £1.5m for an hour’s concert at a Russian billionaire’s New Year party. The unnamed businessman paid for Michael to entertain his 300 guests on his private estate 20 miles outside Moscow.

2009: Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi from Status Quo were both appointed OBEs for services to music and charity.

2012: A draft of a letter John Lennon wrote to Eric Clapton on Sept. 29, 1971 asking him to collaborate on a musical project sold for $35,000 at an auction. Still in pristine condition, the latter was originally estimated to fetch somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000.